New format is a success

Press, 2 June 1982, Page 20

New format is a success

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

It is refreshing to see new formats being introduced into local tournaments, replacing the depressingly boring one board per table, 25 boards per session r events that have stifled mucii duplicate bridge in the past. For this year’s Mid-Can-terbury Pairs the field was divided into two sections, and played three boards a table, a total of 36 deals per session. This had the effect of eliminating much betweendeals time-wasting, and whether because of the format or because the Ashburton Bridge Club always attracts the players, the entry was distinctly better than average.

Pre-tournament favourites F. P. S. Lu and M. Sykes justified their standing with a fine first session, faltered a little in the second half but still did enough to run out comfortable winners.

They were distinctly for tunate on this hand, dealt by South with only East-West vulnerable:

Flourishing the Relay Club, South opened the bidding with one heart. A hand so rich in playing strength would be opened by most tournament players in spite of the paucity of high card points. There is not much doubt that the best action on the North cards is a direct call of four no-trumps, asking for aces. This should be. followed by a bid of six or seven hearts, depending on whether the response shows one or two. Such are the ways of modern bidding, however, that

North launched into a long and complicated relay sequence eventually establishing that his partner held five hearts, five diamonds, two clubs and one spade. He was also able to find out about the two kings and an ace. As they were entitled to be, the opponents were advised of all this, so everyone at the table should have been aware of South's hand. Against the excellent final contract of six hearts, West led the ace of spades and promptly fell' asleep. Seven clubs in dummy, plus four in her hand plus two in South meant that East was void. A club continuation would thus have meant the defeat of the slam when East ruffed. West, however, switched to a heart

and ' South ' quickly claimed the rest. . ... . ■ Another close slam brought them an equally fine result: a.-

With the winners NorthSouth, the auction was: W N E S 1* Dble 2* Dble No 34» No 4< No 6f All Pass West’s opening bid of one spade did nothing to slow his opponents down. North doubled for takeout, East raised his partner to two,-, spades, and South dredged up a double to show

some scattered values. Not « surprisingly. North took.. ofLte? His cue-bid of three spades demanded his partner pick a suit, and when this was dia-, monds he raised him to six'/ Against six diamonds West-* led the ace of spades. After': ruffing in dummy, the de- i clarer chose the best line of play. He came to hand via ’ the ace of clubs to lead adiamond to’ the jack and’s ■ queen. When this held, he. cashed the ace of diamonds,;' drawing the adverse trumps/ and ran off the clubs ing two hearts from his hand.) Now he was able to ruffNorth's two small hearts with his own last two trumps and finish with all 13 tricks. The runners-up in the tournament were A. Q. Abra-.' ham and A. Swords of Christ-j church, who attributed much! of their success to good; competitive bidding. Third; place was taken by Mrs BJ Maples and Mrs J. P. Mather of Crockford’s who did very, well to beat a number of-, longer-established partner-’ ships.